Hoisting-block



'UNITE STATES PATE OFFIC.

VILLIAM H. MERRILL, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HOISTINGr-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,991, dated December-25, 1855.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM H. MERRILL, of Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rolls for Blocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a block with the improvement attached; Fig. 2, a view of one of the rolls; Fig. 3, the step or pintle upon which the roll rests and turns, and Fig. 1l, the cap or socket in which the upper end of theroll is supported.

The nature of my improvement consists inso hanging or arranging the rolls that they may be free to rotate.

I make the rolls of any desired metal, iron or brass; the journal or pivot Fig. upon which the roll turns at its upper endis attached to or made with the roll and rotates in a socket or cap, said cap having a hole drilled nearly through it (as shown by the dotted line Fig. it) to receive the upper journal of the roll. The lower end of the roll, instead of a journal, has a hole (represented by the dotted line Fig. 2) drilled into it, of an inch or more in depth; this hole is to receive the pintle (C. Fig. 3) which is made fast to the block, as is also the cap for the upper end of the roll, by any convenient method, as screws, rivets or bolts. The step or pintle (C. Fig. 3) upon which the lower end of the roll turns, has its upper end or point (D. Fig. 3) made to fit or correspond to the bottom of the hole in the roll. This description of block being generally used when it is desired to change a perpendicular or an angular to a horizontal line of draft (as is the case in many kinds of hoisting apparatus) and consequently having its position near to or on the surface of the the ground, the rolls, as commonly made, (that is, having a journal at each end of the roll and attached to it,) are liable to become clogged or obstructed with dirtthe roll being thus clogged will not turn,- is scored into or woven by the rope, and thus the roll becomes no better than a stationary piece of iron-and the benefit resulting from the use of rolls (which is, the prevention of the friction of the rope against the cheeks of the block), is lost-but when hung in the improved manner above described, the roll itself at its lower end, acts as a kind of shield to protect the journal or pintle, so that the roll never becomes clogged, but rotates freely upon the pintle.

The advantage which I claim for my improvement, is,`that the cap protecting the upper journal or pintle and the roll, the lower pintle, the dirt or any other obstruction is thus prevented from getting into the bearings and clogging the roll.

I do not claim as my invention the use of friction rolls upon t-he cheeks of blocks, for these have long been in use; but

That I do claim as my invention and wish to secure by Letters Patent is- The roll, Fig. 2, the upper socketl or cap, Fig. et and the lower pintle or step, Fig. 3, used together, for the purposes and in the manner, substantially, as herein set forth.

WM. I-I. MERRILL.

Vitnesses:

DAVID VILLIAMS, LEML. T. TALBOT. 

